Wireless dog fences work by sending a signal from a transmitter that attaches to an area where your pet is restricted.
The receiver then emits a warning tone or vibration if the animal has strayed too close to the edge of this boundary zone.
For these reasons, it would be very difficult for the device itself to disrupt your WiFi signal because it operates at such low frequencies and does not have much power output relative to other electronic devices which transmit using radio waves such as WiFi routers.
It is important to note that there are many different types of wireless dog fence systems, so what applies to one system may not apply to another.
What is a wireless dog fence and how does it work?
Dog fence is a radio-frequency (RF) containment system that keeps your dog within the boundaries of your yard.
As long as the collar is on your pet and the transmitter box is plugged in, an invisible beam of energy like an incredibly strong TV remote signal will keep them from crossing over into off-limits areas.
The only thing that is needed for this to work properly is to make sure that both components are working correctly and they’re positioned in such a way that allows you to cover the maximum area without leaving out any gaps.
A wireless dog fence works by broadcasting a radio signal through an underground wire; when the dog gets too close, his collar (which has been programmed with the perimeter boundary) emits warning beeps and then a static correction once your pup is within range.
A wireless dog fence runs on batteries, which are easy to find and replace yourself. A wired system has the advantage of being more powerful, but this also means it’s permanent. You can’t move the boundary wire to a different location unless you decide to completely re-do the whole thing.
Do wireless dog fences interfere with WiFi signals?
If we’re talking about a wireless dog fence with just a small boundary and the wireless router is placed nearby, then there will be no interference. However, if you use an invisible boundary to cover your entire yard and your home WiFi is on the other side of the house, then you might experience some issues because the dog fence signal can interfere with WiFi.
Some wireless dog fences have a unique frequency so you can immediately rule out any chance of signal interference.
If the company does not specify a frequency for its containment system, then it’s time to research reviews and customer feedback to figure out whether or not the product works with your existing equipment.
In some cases, an underground wire is used along with a wireless transmitter box. While this does eliminate any chance of Wi-Fi trigger as it only operates on RF frequencies, the addition of a wired connection means that there are more things to go wrong with your fence.
This is why it’s important to find reviews from pet owners who have been using their product for several months before you make up your mind about buying it yourself.
While most wireless dog fences should not interfere with your wireless router, it’s a good idea to check the specifications or ask customer support for any other hidden details.
Taking into account that most WiFi signals occur between 2.4 and 5GHz frequencies, there is no chance of you experiencing any issues since wireless fencing operates below 9kHz and is well within FCC’s rules.
However, some older routers operate at 2.45GHz which is right in between wi-fi channels 1 & 2; if this frequency happens to be used by your devices, then getting yourself a new model would help out tremendously as it could reduce signal interference and allow for better accuracy when training Dog to stay within his boundaries.
Many pet owners choose wireless containment systems because they’re versatile and easy to use. If you’ve been using wireless routers for many years and never had any problems with Wi-Fi signals, then there’s no reason to worry about buying a pet fence system that uses RF frequencies.
However, if the idea of not being able to check your email or share files until Dog gets back seems like something out of a science-fiction movie where everyone is disarmed by “the dog”, then it would be best to get yourself a wired containment system that offers optimal performance at all times.
With careful planning and placement of the wire, your wireless router should experience minimal interferences while still allowing for smooth performance.
What are the concerns if a wireless dog fence interferes with WiFi signal?
If you’re using a wireless containment system and experience a constant signal loss, then there’s no need to worry because the chances of it interfering with your computer or Internet speeds are close to zero.
However, if you’ve been having problems with your Wi-Fi signal lately, then adding a pet fence might worsen things by pushing one band right into another.
This can be fixed by purchasing additional equipment that enables you to run both at the same time without experiencing any issues.
In some rare cases, a wireless dog fence might interfere with your neighbor’s router if you happen to live close together.
Although this does not usually pose any threats as the only thing at risk is Internet connectivity, it’s still a good idea to check on them and see if their Internet has been down as well.
If everything else seems fine and you’re the only one experiencing connectivity issues, then it’s time to contact customer support and ask them whether or not there might be a faulty device that needs replacement.
Pet fence systems are usually covered by warranties for at least 1 full year after purchase; however, this does not apply if you’ve dropped the system, your pet managed to chew through the wire or there’s been a flood in your area.
If you’ve been using an underground system for over half a year and the only thing that got wet is Dog after he jumped into a puddle, then it would be best to contact customer service instead of going through the hassle of sending it back everything for replacement.
This is especially true if you’ve been using the system long enough to realize that it’s not working at full capacity; in most cases, all you will need is a replacement transmitter without having to send back the entire containment system.
How strong does WiFi have to be to affect dog fence performance?
One crucial aspect of opting for either a wired or wireless dog fence is its power output. Since most companies refuse to provide this information, it’s up to do determine whether or not the wireless dog fence you’re looking at is powerful enough to reach the whole yard.
When it comes to WiFi, however, this information can be found on any router’s packaging and even online.
If your wireless dog fence seems to be working fine then it has likely been transmitting signals of sufficient strength for them to reach your property.
It goes without saying that it is always better to err on the side of caution and invest in a more powerful wireless dog fence.
If the signal strength is not your issue, then it’s likely that your WiFi router itself isn’t working properly, which means you’ll have to replace it with either another older one or buy a new model entirely.
The best way to determine whether or not your router is faulty is by looking at the lights indicating activity on the device. If it isn’t lit, then there’s a strong chance that your router has been damaged as a result of some other event and needs replacing.
What are some ways of preventing wireless dog fence from interfering with my router?
In the event that your wireless dog fence is working normally but you’re worried it will interfere with your WiFi signal, you might want to look at a few ways of preventing this from happening.
One way of mitigating the potential impact of a wireless dog fence on your WiFi connectivity is by turning that device off during heavy use.
This means switching off the perimeter transmitter and ensuring that this isn’t done during peak hours, such as when you’re likely to be streaming videos or playing online games.
Another strategy would involve investing in a dual-band router. The difference between single and dual-band routers lies in the fact that all 2.4 GHz signals are transmitted through one frequency while 5.0 GHz signals occupy another.
By using both at once, you won’t have to worry about your wireless dog fence interfering with your WiFi connectivity since no devices will be transmitting on the same frequency bands at once.
At any rate, if your router seems to be emitting strong signals and is working properly then it’s more than likely that the issue lies within your wireless dog fence.
If you’re still concerned there may be an issue, however, consult with an expert to determine whether or not you have to replace your wireless dog fence.
Conclusion
As you can see from the above discussion, interference from wireless dog fences with WiFi routers is more of a theoretical problem that’s difficult to confirm.
If your dogs are behaving normally and there are no issues with your home network then it stands to reason that the issue lies within your wireless dog fence, not outside of it.
So unless you have a multiband router or can afford to buy a new one, I wouldn’t worry about this issue too much since 99% of the time it won’t be a problem for most people.